The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) is a civic association existing since 1946. It has established six regional centers in 2002, and has about 700 members. Its mission is to enable harmonization and realization of professional interests of journalists, to advocate for freedom of expression and freedom of journalistic profession, and to strengthen professional independence and ethics in journalism.

Project funded by ISC.
AJM’s project will establish a Code of Anti-corruptive Journalism, which will become an integral part of the Code of Conduct of Macedonian journalists. In order to prevent anti-corruptive behavior among journalists the project will open a free telephone line for citizens to report on such cases, and its Council of Honor will undertake appropriate actions. It will also undertake a research on the use of the Law on Free Access to Information of public nature, and will educate the journalists on how to use the opportunities that the Law offers. The journalists would do investigative stories and inform on access to information and corruptive behaviors. The project will award the best investigative story.

Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) is an independent, non-profit research and policy institute established in 2004, which aims to promote democratization and economic transformation in Macedonia. CRPM develops a new style of policy analysis and serves as a forum for young Macedonian citizens to acquire and apply knowledge and skills for evidence based research and policy analysis.

Project funded by ISC.
Through the project CRPM will recruit budget watchdog groups from among various NGOs and business associations in R. Macedonia train them in budget monitoring and related issues, provide support in their prospective work and eventually – establish a network platform of budget watchdog groups. To achieve the above mentioned CRPM will identify up to 9 NGOs in nine regions throughout the country through an open call for applications and then deliver four training modules and mentoring of the selected group of NGOs that will be given practical assignments upon completion of each training.

Polio Plus – post polio support group was established in 1999 to work on promoting and protecting the rights and freedoms of people with special needs, and creating of equal opportunities as their basic human right. The NGO focuses strategically on advocating for an appropriate legislation framework, and on awareness raising about disability rights. It undertook the first successful citizen’s initiative for collecting 10,000 signatures for proposing a Law on Protection of Disability Rights to the Parliament.

Project funded by ISC.
Polioplus’s project will raise awareness about corruption in the health sector through a creative campaign with a clearly developed anti-corruption message. It will also contribute towards development of adequate legislation, such as the Law on Protection of Patients’ Rights and the Law on Medical Practice.